Method and apparatus for handling strands



Dec. 4, 1962 N. E. KLEIN 3,066,472

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING sTRANDs Filed April 16', 1958 NORMAN E.-KLE!N F/6.-2- BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,066,472 METHOD AND APPARATUS FGR HANDUNG ST? Norman E. Klein, Pendleton, S.C., assignor to Bearing Milliken Research Corporation, Pendleton, 5.11., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 16, 1958, tier. No. 728,937 51 Ciairns. (Cl. 5758.3)

take-up roll, and intermediate feed rolls preceding the take-up roll.

In the art of handling strands of textile material it has been proposed to ply together two strands of yarn through the medium of a balloon driving device for obtaining a first strand of yarn in a balloon about a source of supply for a second strand of yarn, combining the two strands at or adjacent one end of the balloon and subsequently winding the resultant plied strand upon a take-up roll or the like. This produces a plied yarn or cord which is particularly advantageous in suchfields as the manufacture of tire cord and the like. In the previous apparatus and methods, however, it has been necessary to employ direct drive means between a source of power and the take-up roll and feed rolls, as well as the reciproeating or other traverse motion imparting means for the traverse guides at the take-up roll.

It has also been proposed in the prior art to employ a two-for-one twister wherein a single or a plurality of strands are twisted together and orbited in a balloon about a take-up roll or the like, the balloon strand being reversed in its path at the free end of the balloon and passed in infeed relation through an apex guide and about a plurality of feed capstans or rolls, then through a traverse guide arrangement to the take-up roll within the balloon. In this prior two-for-one device it has been necessary to drive directly not only the take-up roll and motion-imparting means for the traverse guide, but also to drive by direct gearing the feed capstans or rolls from the balloon driving spindle end of this arrangement. The direct gear drive of the take-up roll and motion-imparting means for the take-up traverse guide is readily and facilely accomplished; however, considerable additional gearing is necessary to directly drive the intermediate feed capstans or rolls disposed at or adjacent the opposite end of the balloon. It is an important feature of this invention that in each of these two general types of devices (i.e. ply action cord formers and two-for-one twisters) the energy of revolution of the orbiting or ballooning strand may be utilized to drive any one or more or all of the intermediate feed rolls or capstans, take-up roll, and traverse guide without the necessity for direct gear or other drive coupling between a source of power and these yarn handling elements. It will be apparent, however, that in the case of a two-for-one twister as described above it will normally not be desirable or necessary to employ the energy of revolution of the orbiting strand to drive the take-up roll and traverse guide since such are normally most advantageously driven by direct gear arrangement from the balloon driving spindle, although it will be advantageous to drive the feed capstans within the balloon by the energy of revolution of the orbiting or ballooning strand.

It is another important feature of the invention to pro- 3,066,472 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 vide a useful outlet for utilizing the energy in a ballooning or orbiting strand of yarn or the like in order to handle the yarn subsequent to its exit from the balloon.

It is a further feature according to the invention to provide a unique coupling arrangement for coupling an orbiting or ballooning strand to a drive arrangement, particularly a drive arrangement which is employed to handle a strand from which it derives its energy.

It is still a further important feature that according to this invention a twister or plying spindle may be employed with a synchronous drive between the twisting or plying and the take up means and other intermediate strand handling elements without the necessity for, and the inherent disadvantages of, employing conventional belt or gear drives between the twister or plying spindle and the take up means, feed rolls, or other strand handling elements, with the consequent important elimination of any possibility of slip as might normally occur between the whorl and the take up or intermediate feed roll elements as when a conventional belt drive is employed.

It is another important feature according to the invention to make possible the employment of individual motor: ized twister and plying spindles while providing for substantially full synchronous drive between the twister or plying spindle and the subsequent feed rolls orother strand handling elements, without the necessity for external interconnecting gear or belt drive means between the plying or twister spindle and the feed rolls or other strand handling elements.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of several physical embodiments constructed according to the inven tion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw! ings wherein FIGURE 1 is a schematic view in perspective illustrating a plying and take-up arrangement according to the invention.

FlGURE 2 is a section view illustrating in more detail a portion of the balloon energy coupling arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of a two-for-one twister constructed according to the invention.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 a first strand of yarn X from a supply package 11 is passed through a suitable guide and pretensioning arrangement 13, and thence through a hollow spindle 15 rotatably driven by a suitable drive means such as a drive belt 17 connected to a motor or the like (not shown). The strand of yarn X is passed up through the center of the hollow spindle i5 and then transversely outwardly through a transverse opening 19 in the spindle, the driven spindle 15 serving to revolve the strand of yarn X in a balloon about a substantially stationary housing 21 having a second substantially stationary supply package 23 therewithin. Preferably the driven spindle '15 has incorporated thereon a yarn storage device 25, which may be of conventional construction, and which serves to control the shape and tension of the strand balloon in a manner well known in the art, as shown for instance in US. Patent No. 2,732,681.

The ballooned or orbited strand X is subsequently combined at any suitable location adjacent the apex of the balloon, as for instance as shown in FIGURE 2, with a se ond strand Y, the second strand Y being suitably pretensioned as by a tension control device 26 of desired type and construction from the second supply package. While in this particular arrangement the ply point of the two strands X and Y is illustrated as occurring near the input end of a flyer 31 at the apex end of the balloon, this is mere.y by way of illustration, and it will be seen aseparategear may be secured on the shaft.

that it is clearly Within the scope of the invention to combine the two strands at other positions along their paths, as for instance a suitable yarn tensioning, tension balancing or metering device may be employed between the apex end of the balloon and the combining or plying point of the strands.

As discussed generally supra the strands X and Y are ciorn'bined in the illustrated embodiment adjacent the apex end of the balloon either within, subsequent to, or prior to passage within an axial bore 27 formed in a freely rotatable shaft '29'formi n'g part of a freely rotatable fiyer generally indicated at 31. The shaft 29 is mounted eoaxially with the balloon driving spindle 15 and in a pairof spaced ball bearings 33a, 33b disposed in a suitably supported "fixed or selectively movable housing 35. A co'upling guide '37 in the form of a downwardly and outwardly "bent wire having a pigtail guide eye 39 at its lower and outer'end is fixedly connected to the rotatable shaft 29 and serves to couple the energy of revolution of the o'rbiting'or ballooning'strand X, through a motion transmitting'arrangement described hereinafter, to various repeated the energy consuming strand handling elements. A collar 41 having a'balance counter weight 43 may suit ably serve for "attaching the coupling guide 37 to the shaft 29, asshown in FIGURE 2, the counter balanced collar' tl being secured to the balance as by a set screw 45. Gearte 'eth 47 are formed on the shaft 29 between the lower bearing 3n'and the collar 41, or as may be desired The teeth 47 on' th'e shaft 29, thus form an effective pinion gear which meshes with and drives an adjacent spur gear 51 offset from the axis of revolution of the yarn balloon. The oifset spur gear 51 is secured on a shaft 53 rotatably jour-naled'in a pair of swing arms 55 pivotally mounted 'as'o'n pivot pins '57 carried by a suitable fixed support or supports v Secured at the upper end of the shaft 53 is a'pinion'ei which meshes with a gear 63 secured on a suitable rotatably mounted shaft 65 serving to impart rotation to a pair of feed rolls 6'? as through the medium of bevel gears d9 fixedly mounted on the shaft 65 and corresponding bevel gears 76 formed on or secured to the feed rolls or capstans 67.

The'cord XY formed by the plied strands X and Y is fed in several wraps about the feed rolls or capstans 67, which feed rolls are preferably canted in order to advance'each successive yarn wrap in accordance with the common and well known practice in the art, the cord XY being thus pulled away from the ply point by the energy derived from the orbiting or ballooning strand X by the coupling fiyer guide 31, 37.

Subsequent to passage about the intermediate feed rolls 67 the-cord XY is passed through a suitable traverse guide 71 which serves to lay a suitable build of the cord onto a bobbin, tube, or other yarn carrier 73 mounted on a take-up spindle 75. The take-up spindle 75 is advantageously driven either through a friction clutch or coupling 77 or by a roll surface drive, both type drives being common'in the art, or other desired drive connection. -Unique'according to this invention however is the connection of the driving arrangement for the take-up spindle 75 to the energy coupling flyer 31, 37, whereby the take-up spindle 75 is driven solely by the energy of revolution of the orbiting strand X. To this end the shaft 65 has-a pulley 81 secured thereon which is in driving relation with a belt 83 and a second pulley 85 secured on the drive shaft 79 to the take-up roll. A friction or magnetic hysteresis clutch 77 of any desired suitable construction may be arranged between the drive shaft 79 and the take-up roll 75 in order to prevent any excess build-up of tension in the cord XY as the package formed on the take-up bobbin 73 increases in size.

The cord of strands XY is laid upon the take-up package carrier 73 through the medium of a traverse guide 71 of any suitable and desired construction, the traverse guide 71 in the illustrated embodiment having a simple pigtail guide eye 91 disposed on a follower 93 contacting a double threaded traverse guide cam screw 95. Rotation of the cam screw 95 to reciprocate the traverse guide 71 along the take-up roll '75 is effected through the medium of a speed reduction gear train 97 taking its power from the shaft 65, which in turn derives its power from the energy of revolution of the orbiting strand X, as described supra.

In order to provide for plying of the strands X and Y together with an opposite twist from that illustrated, an additional gear may be provided between the gears 61 and 63, the drive belt 17 and spindle 15 being driven in the opposite direction in such case, and the feed rolls or capstans 67, traverse guide cam screw 95 and take-up spindle 75 being driven in the same direction as illustrated. Desired changes of different rates of feed, traverse, and degree of twist, etc. may be readily accomplishcd through the employment of change gears having different ratios.

In FIGURE 3 there is illustrated an embodiment wherein the invention is applied in a two-for-one twister. In this embodiment a single strand or a plurality of strands as may be desired, and generally indicated at X, is fed from a suitable source or sources of supply (not shown) through the central bore 1-11 in a hollow spindle and out through a transverse exit aperture 113 therein, the hollow spindle 119 being suitably rotated as by adrive belt (not shown) to orbit the strand or strands X in a balloon past a cup shaped flyer 115 and about a feed and take up rol arrangement generally indicated at 1 17. The take-up roll 133 is suitably mounted on a platform 119 stabilized in a conventional manner as by magnets, unbalanced weights, etc. (not shown). Take-uproll 133 is positively driven by a suitable'intermediate gear train 121 driven by the hollow spindle 110, which gear train 121 also serves to impart rotation to a conventional double threaded traverse guide cam screw 123 also suitably mounted on the nonrotatable stabilized platform 119. A traverse guide finger having a guide pulley 127 and guide eye E29 thereon is reciprocated in a conventional manner upon rotation of the double threaded cam screw 123 to build a suitable yarn package on a yarn carrier such as a tube or the like 131 mounted on the driven take-up spindle 133.

The ballooning yarn X is preferably controlled in its shape and tension through the medium of a yarn storageballoon shape and tension control device 135 of conventional construction formed on the hollow spindle 110 adjacent the transverse yarn exit aperture 113 formed therein, as inthe preceding embodiment. Adjacent-the upper end of the balloon the plied cord or Strand forming the balloon is passed through a coupling guide eye 13% formed on the outer end of an energy coupling memher in the form of a freely rotatable fiyer'137. The energy coupling balloon driven flyer 137 includes a radially extending wire 139 bent to fo'rm the pigtail coupling guide eye 139a at its outer end and fixedly secured at its inner end on a sleeve shaft 143 rotatably mounted in a ball bearing 145. The outer race 145a of the ball bearing is suitably mounted as by a press fit in a cup shaped housing 14? supported on an apex guide post 151 in turn secured as by a press fit and supported on a suitable support frame 153, which is connected in any suitable manner .(not shown) to and supported by the stabilized supportplatform 119. The hollow sleeve shaft 143 rotates about the stationary apex guide post 151, and has suitably secured onto its lower end a spur gear 157 which meshes with a second spur gear'159 mounted on a shaft 161 rotatably journaled in and supported by the support frame 153 and on the other end of which ix fixedly mounted one of a pair of feed capstans or rolls 163a, 1631). The second, preferably canted, feed roll or capstan 16312 i suitably mounted adjacent the first feed roll 163a and is connected in driven relation thereto by gears 167 and 169 formed on or securedto feed capstans, and an interconnecting gear 171v Thus, the rotation of the'freely rotatable energy-coupling balloon driven fiyer 137 by the coupling of the orbiting strand balloon thereto serves to impart rotation to the feed capstaus or rolls 163a, 1631) through the medium of interconnecting gears 157, 159, 167, 169, 171.

The balloon strand or cord of strands X passes from the coupling fiyer guide 137, 139 to a smooth conically shaped guide surface 173 formed on the upper end of the apex guide post 151 and thence through an axial bore 175 formed through the center of the apex guide post 151. From the apex guide post 151 the yarn X passes about a guide pulley 177, thence about the feed capstans or rolls 163a, 16312 for several wraps and thereafter proceeding about a plurality of guide pulleys 179 to the traverse guide finger 125 where it passes about the guide pulley 127 thereon and thence through the guide eye 129 which serves to lay the yarn X in the desired build on the yarn carrier mounted on the take-up roll 133 to thereby form a yarn package of suitable size and shape. In order to aid in the more uniform tensioning of the yarn during the movement of the traverse guide 125, 12% along the length of the take-up package, a rack and rolling pinion guide moving arrangement 181 suitably supported by platform 119 and having a pair of relatively rectilinearly movable pulleys 17% and 17%, as shown more particularly in my copending U.S. patent application SN. 424,- 461, filed April 20, 1954, now U.S. Patent No. 2,834,178, may be suitably employed if desired.

Although I have described two specific embodiments constructed in accordance with my invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such specific embodiments are only by way of illustration, and that many modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of the appending claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. Strand handling apparatus comprising means for orbiting a strand in a balloon, an energy coupling member separate from said means and continuously rotatable in a selected angular direction about said balloon axis and being adapted to be engaged by and rotatable solely by said balloon, and a further strand moving member operatively connected in driven relation to said energy coupling member and being adapted to movably engage said strand at a point other than on the balloon formed thereby, said further strand moving member operatively connecting said energy coupling member in driving relation to said strand at said other point and being adapted to move said strand as a function of the energy of revolution transmitted from said balloon through said energy coupling member and strand moving member to said strand.

2. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for orbiting said strand comprises a hollow spindle having a transverse strand guiding aperture formed therein, and means for rotatably driving said spindle.

3. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a stabilized support supported by said spindle and disposed within the balloon formed by said orbited strand, said support being adapted to support a strand package.

4. Strand handling apparatus comprising means for orbiting a strand in a balloon, an energy coupling member separate from said means and rotatable about said balloon axis and being adapted to be engaged by and rotatable solely by said balloon, and a further strand moving member operatively connected in driven relation to said energy coupling member and being adapted to movably engage said strand at a point other than on the balloon formed thereby, a stabilized support disposed within the balloon formed by said orbiting strand, and a strand take-up device mounted on said stabilized sup- 6 port, and guide means for guiding a strand from said balloon to said strand take-up device.

5. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for orbiting said strand comprises a hollow spindle having a transverse strand guiding aperture formed therein, and means for rotatably driving said spindle, said apparatus being a multiple-strand plying apparatus and further comprising a stabilized support operatively connected to and supported by said spindle and being disposed within the balloon formed by said orbited strand, said support being adapted to support a strand supply package for a second strand to be plied together with said first mentioned strand, said strand moving member being an advancing member disposed exteriorly of the balloon formed by said first mentioned strand and adapted to contact in strand advancing relation the plied cord strand product of said first mentioned strand and said second strand.

6. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said strand advancing member is a feed roll.

7. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a take-up device operatively connected in driven relation to said energy coupling member and being adapted to wind up said cord strand to form a package.

8. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a movable strand traversing device disposed adjacent said take-up device, said traversing device being operatively connected in driven relation to said energy coupling member and being adapted to engage and traverse said cord strand along said take-up device.

9. A two-for-one twister comprising a rotatable hollow spindle for orbiting a yarn in a balloon and having an axial yarn guide bore therein and a transverse bore communicating between said axial bore and the exterior periphery of said spindle, means for rotatably driving said spindle, a stabilized platform supported on said spindle in relatively stationary position, a yarn take-up device mounted on said platform, a yarn feed roll mounted on said platform, a freely rotatable fiyer coaxial with and axially spaced from said spindle adjacent the opposite end of the yarn balloon formed by rotation of said spindle, and a yarn guide on said fiyer and adapted to couple said balloon to said fiyer for rotation of said fiyer by the energy of revolution of said balloon, said fiyer being operatively connected in driving relation to said feed roll.

10. A two-for-one twister according to claim 9 including a direct gear connection between said fiyer and said feed roll.

11. A plying arrangement comprising a rotatable hol low spindle for orbiting a first strand in a balloon and having an axial strand guide bore therein and a transverse bore communicating between said axial bore and the exterior periphery of said spindle, means for rotatably driving said spindle, a relatively stationary strand package support for a second strand to be plied together with said first strand, said strand package support being supported by said spindle and disposed within the balloon formed by the orbiting of said first strand, and a freely rotatable flyer coaxial with and axially spaced from said spindle, a strand guide on said fiyer and adapted to couple said balloon in driving relation to said fiyer for rotation of said fiyer by the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon, and movable strand moving means, said fiyer being operatively connected in driving relation to said strand moving means and effecting movement of said strand moving means in a path to impart strand movement additional to rotation about the axis of said balloon by energy derived from the orbiting energy of said strand.

12. A plying arrangement comprising a rotatable 1101- low spindle for orbiting a first strand in a balloon and having an axial strand guide bore therein and a transverse bore communicating between said axial bore and the exterior periphery of said spindle, means for rotatably driving said spindle, a relatively stationary strand package support for a second strand to be plied together with said first strand, said strand package support being supported by said spindle and disposed within the balloon formed by the orbiting of said first strand, and a freely rotatable flyer coaxial with and axially spaced from said spindle, a strand guide on said fiyer and adapted to couple said ballooh in driving relation to said fiyer for rotation of said fiyer by the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon, and movable strand moving means, said fiyer being operatively connected in driving relation to said strand moving means, said movable strand moving means including a strand take-up device, said fiyer being operatively coupled in driving relation to said take-up device.

13. A plying arrangement according to claim 12 wherein said movable strand moving means includes a strand feed roll device, said fiyer being operatively coupled in driving relation to said feed roll device.

14. A plying arrangement according to claim 13 wherein said feed roll device is spaced from said flyer.

15. A plying arrangement comprising a rotatable hollow spindle for orbiting a first strand in a balloon and having an axial strand guide bore therein and a transverse bore communicating between said axial bore and the exterior periphery of said spindle, means for rotatably driving said splindle, a relatively stationary strand package support for a second strand to be plied together with said first strand, said strand package support being supported by said Spindle and disposed within the balloon formed by the prbiting of said first strand, and a freely rotatable tdyer coaxial with and axially spaced from said spindle, a strand guide on said fiyer and adapted to couple said balloon in driving relation to said fiyer for rotation of said fiyer by the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon, and movable strand moving means, said fiyer being operatively connected in driving relation to said strand moving means, said movable strand moving means including a-movable strand traversing device, said fiyer being operatively coupled in driving relation to said traversing device.

16. A- plying arrangement comprising a rotatable hollow spindle for orbiting a first strand in a balloon and having'an axial strand guide bore therein and a transverse bore communicating between said axial bore and the exteriorgperiphery of said spindle, means for rotatably driving said spindle, a relatively stationary strand package support for a second strand to be plied together with said first strand, said strand package support-being supported by said-spindle and disposed within the balloon formed by the orbiting of said first strand, and a freely rotatable fiyer coaxial with and axially spaced from said spindle, a strand guide on said fiyer and adapted to couple said balloon-in drivingrelation to said fiyer for rotation of said fiyer by theenergy of revolution of said strand in said balloon, and movable strand moving means, said flyer being operatively connected in driving relation to said strand'moving means, said movable strand moving means including a strand feed roll device, a strand take-up device, and -a strand traversing device disposed adjacent said takeup device, said fiyer being operatively coupled in driving relation to each ofsaid feed roll device, strand traversing device, and strand take-up device.

17. A plying arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the sole external energy input to said arrangement consists-of said means for rotatably driving said hollow spindle, the sole'point of applying said external energy input'being on said hollow spindle.

18. A plying arrangement according to claim 17 wherein said strand feed roll device is disposed in strand flowrelation between said'hollow spindle and said take-up device.

19. Aplying arrangement comprising a rotatable hollow spindle for orbiting-a first strand in a balloon and having an axial strand guidebore therein and a transverse bore communicating between said axial bore and the exterior periphery of said spindle, means for rotatably driving said spindle, a relatively'stationary strand package support for a second strand to be plied together with said first strand, said strand package support being supported by said spindle and disposed within the balloon formed by the orbiting of said first strand, and a freely rotatableflyer coaxial with and axially spaced from said spindle, a strand guide on said fiyer and adapted to couple said balloon in driving relation to said fiyer for rotation of said flyer by the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon, and movable strand moving means, said fiyer being operatively connected in driving relation to said strand moving means, a strand take-up device and a strand feed device, said strand feed device being said movable strand moving means and including at least one feed roll disposed in strand flow relation between said flyer and said take-up device, said fiyer being positively coupled in driving relation to said feed roll.

20. A plying arrangement according to claim 19 wherein said drive coupling includes a direct gear drive connection between said fiyer and said feed roll.

21. Strand handling apparatus comprising means for orbiting a strand in a balloon, an energy coupling member adapted to engage and be moved by said orbiting strand in said balloon, said energy coupling member being continuously rotatable in the same direction as said orbiting strand and in synchronous response to the orbiting movement of said strand, and motion transmitting means operatively connecting said energy coupling member in medon-imparting relation to said strand and imparting strand movement additional to rotation about the axis of said balloon'by energy derived from the orbiting energyo'fsaid strand.

22. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said energy coupling member is a rotatable fiyer having a strand engaging guide thereon.

23. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said motion transmitting means comprises a gear train and a movable strand engaging member, said gear train being operatively connected between said energy coupling member and said strand engaging member.

24. Strand handling apparatus according to claim .23 wherein said energy coupling member is a strand balloondriven fiyer and said movable strand engaging member is rotatable about an axis transverse to the linear direction of movement of yarn thereon.

25. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said movable strand engaging member is a ro-' tatable feed roll.

26. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said motion transmitting means includes a take-up spindle operatively connected in driven relation tosaid energy coupling member.

27. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said motion transmitting means includes at least one strand feed roll operatively connected in rotatably driven relation to said energy coupling member for driven rotation about its own axis by energy derived through said energy coupling member.

28. Strand handling apparatus according to claim :21 further including means adapted to support asource of supply for a second strand within said balloon, and means for guiding said second strand for plying with said first mentioned strand, said motion transmitting means being operatively connected in motion imparting relation to the plied strand formed by the plying of said first mentioned and said second strand.

29. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said apparatus is a two-for-one twister having a strand take-up disposed Within the locus of said balloon, and guide means disposed Within the locus of said balloon for guiding a strand to said take-up.

30. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said motion transmitting means includes at least one feed roll operatively connected to, and adapted to be driven solely, other than by any take-up pull exerted 9 thereon by the strand fed thereby, by the energy transmitted thereto by said energy coupling member.

31. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said motion transmitting means is disposed within the balloon formed by said orbiting strand.

32. Strand handling apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said motion transmitting means is disposed exteriorly of the balloon formed by said orbiting strand.

33. Method of linearly moving a strand comprising orbiting a strand in a balloon and continuously translating a portion of the energy of revolution of said strand to linear strand moving energy, and continuously reapplying said translated strand-moving energy to said strand.

34. The method according to claim 33 including reapplying said translated energy to advance said strand within the locus of said balloon.

35. The method according to claim 33 including reapplying said translated energy to said strand exteriorly or said balloon.

36. The method according to claim 35 including linearly advancing said strand solely .by application of said translated balloon-derived energy.

37. The method according to claim 36 including winding said strand solely by application or" said translated balloon derived energy.

38. The method according to claim 33 including plying said strand with another strand, and re-applying said translated energy to advance the plied said strands.

39. Method of linearly advancing a strand comprising orbiting a strand in a balloon, and translating and applying a portion of the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon to said strand as a continuous linear pulling force acting along the longitudinal axis of said strand.

40. Method of winding a strand comprising orbiting a strand in a balloon, translating and applying a portion of the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon to drive a strand take-up device, and taking up said strand on said take-up device driven solely through the energy derived by said orbiting balloon.

41. Method of advancing a strand in a linear direction comprising orbiting a strand in a balloon, translating and applying a portion of the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon to drive a strand feed roll, and intimately intercontacting said strand and said feed roll to thereby advance said strand by its own orbital energy of revolution.

42. Method of traversing a strand along a take-up package comprising orbiting a strand in a balloon, translating a portion of the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon into continuous reciprocating motion in synchronized relation with the orbiting of said strand, and applying said translated energy to said strand to thereby continuously and repetitively reciprocate said strand through a selected path.

43. Method of driving a rotatable strand-advancing element comprising orbiting a strand in a balloon and translating the energy of revolution of said strand in said balloon to rotating drive energy for said strand advancing element, and applying said rotating drive energy to said strand-advancing element.

44. Method of handling strands comprising imparting an orbiting motion to a strand to form a strand balloon, and imparting additional movement to said. strand in synchronous relation to the orbiting motion or said strand in said balloon and additional to rotation about the axis of said balloon by energy derived solely from the energy of revolution of said balloon.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein said additional movement imparted to said strand is linear.

46. The method according to claim 44 wherein said additional movement imparted to said strand is lateral to the length of said strand.

47. The method according to claim 44 wherein said additional movement imparted to said strand comprises taking up said strand on a strand carrier.

48. The method according to claim 44 further comprising plying said strand with a second strand, and imparting said additional movement to the plied product of both said strands subsequent to said plying.

49. The method according to claim 48 wherein said plying is effected subsequent to said orbiting of said first mentioned strand.

50. The method of handling strands comprising imparting an orbiting motion to a strand to form a strand balloon, imparting additional movement to said strand in synchronous relation to the orbiting motion of said strand in said balloon and additional to rotation about the axis of said balloon by energy derived from the energy of revolution of said balloon, plying said strand with a second strand prior to said orbiting, and orbiting both said first mentioned and said second strands in combined cord form.

51. The method of handling strands comprising imparting an orbiting motion to a strand to form a strand balloon, imparting additional movement to said strand in synchronous relation to the orbiting motion of said strand in said balloon by energy derived from the energy of revolution of said balloon, said additional movement of said strand being effected within the locus of said balloon, said method including takin up said strand within said balloon.

References @ited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,712,214 Peterson et a1 July 5, 1955 2,725,711 Vibber Dec. 6, 1955 2,726,506 Vibber Dec. 13, 1955 2,752,749 DeI-Ialleux July 3, 1956 2,811,012 Klein Oct. 29, 1957 2,857,730 Vibber Oct. 28, 1958 

